This is what I do, and I never lose any roses, and it doesn't matter what zone the roses are rated at:
I overwinter my 50 roses in large pots in my garage with the
2 cars. LOL Three car garage.
Here's what I do:
- I keep deadheading until it's time for them to go into the
garage.
- I keep feeding them and watering well until it's time for them to go into the
garage.
-Then when the temperature gets to be about -6C I cut all the leaves off at the
point they join the heavier stem. I don't cut any height off of the plant.
- At this point I water them really, really well and move them by dolly into
the garage.
- I cover them with thick blankets, layers of flannel sheets or sleeping bags when the outside temp gets colder than -20C.
- My garage is insulated.
- Then I leave them alone in the dark. Doesn't matter if the garage door is
opened and closed.
- Around January, I look and see if they're dried out a bit.
- If they are, then I water each rose 1/2 cup.
- I repeat this every month.
- As the weather starts warming up, I take off some blankets - so they don't
start making new growth in the heat.
- Any new growth should be broken off as you would thorns - just push them to
the side, and they'll fall off.
- If you have only a few pots - you can start taking them outside during the
day when it gets about 5 C outside. Bring them inside until the night
temperature doesn't drop below 2C.
- Remember to water really well once you take them outside.
- If you have a lot - then either wait until night tempreatures are 2C before
you take them outside - or cover them with blankets at night.
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This winter was really warm, so I didn't cover them at all.
Hope this helps. :)
Carol
Q